United States presidential election, 1856

The Presidential elections were growing more and more disputed. The territorial division between the north and the south was becoming greater. The Democrats were desperate for a compromise candidate. James Buchanan had not gotten involved in either side of the slavery issue and thus was nominated by the Democrats. John C. Fremont was chosen by the new Republican party which was greatly opposed to slavery. Another party that participated was the American Party, a nativist, anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic party known to their opponents as the "Know Nothings". They nominated former President: Millard Fillmore as their candidate. The results of the close election were: